Foldable play pen



Feb. 26, 1946. J. RJWRIGHT 2,395,603

FOLDABLE PLAYv PEN Filed July 3, 1944 2 Shees-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1946. J R WmGHf 2,395,603

` FOLDABLE PLAY PEN Filed July 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IfvvsNTon; JoHN R14/RIGHT,

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Paienterl Feb. 26, i946 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE PLAY PEN I John R. Wright, Des Moines, Iowa Application July 3, 1944, Serial No. 543,291

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to play yards or pens for children and in particular to a portable childs play pen of foldable type.

Foldable play pens of the prior art generally include side rails and end rails, with each end rail being foldable and comprised of two members pivoted at their outer ends to an adjacent side rail to provide for their pivotal movement to extended or open positions in longitudinal alignment normal to the side rails, and to folded positions adjacent the inner surface of 'a side rail. Further these pens usually have a foldable floor comprised of two sections each of which sections is pivoted to the bottom of an adjacent side rail for pivotal movement to an open position between the side rails and end rails, and to a closed position against a corresponding rail.

When the play pen is set up the corresponding members in an end rail are locked together in their open positions. The floor sections are located between the side and end rails and supported in a spaced relation from the ground or iioor surface by suitable blocks or like means located centrally of the floor sections and coacting means on the floor sections and end rails. As a result it is necessary for a person to lean over a rail to remove or place a child within the pen. This is particularly inconvenient for mothers who must lift and carry a child many times during the day, since it imposes an additional strain in requiring them to bend over a rail whenever a child is to be raised or deposited Within the play pen.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved childs play pen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a childs foldable play pen in which a child can be removed from or placed in the pen without requiring a person to bend over a side of the pen.

A further object of this invention is to provide a childs foldable play pen which is capable of being set up or folded without at any time'requiring a person to bend overa side of the pen.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a childs foldable play pen in which:

a foldable iioor is supported in a spaced relation above a floor or ground surface independently of at least one of the foldable end rails of the pen, which one rail is comprised of a pair of members at least one of which is pivotally movable through an angular distance of substantially 180. Means are provided to releasably lock the end rail members in an extended or set-up position against lateral and vertical movement, and

with such one member constituting a gate for opening and closing the pen after the pen has been set up.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the 'following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a childs foldable play pen of this invention shown in a set-up position and with one member of an end rail in an open position to permit a person to enter the pen;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view as seen i along the une 2-2 in Fig. 1, with one of the floor sections shown in a folded position; y

Fig. 3 is a Vdetail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the play pen in a folded position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a member of the end rail illustrated in open position in Fig. 1;V

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing coacting means on two members comprising a foldable end rail, for releasably locking the end rail in an extended or set-up position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a block member for supporting the two floor sectionsvof the foldable floor independently of an end rail, with one of the floor sections being shown in a moved position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view takenon the line 8-8 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view as seen on line 9 9 in Fig. 8.

With reference to the drawings there is illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 4 a childs foldable play pen comprising side rails I0 and II and foldable ends rails I2 and I3. The opposite ends of the side rails are provided with caster wheels I5 whereby the pen is movable to any desired -location. Each end rail I2 and I3 is comprised of a pair of rail members I4 and I6, and I'I and I8, respectively. The members M and IG'are pivotally connected, in a usual manner, adjacent the outer ends of their upper and lower frame members30 and 35, respectively, with corresponding frame members 2E and 25 of adjacent side rails In and Ii by means including plate members I9 carried on the frame members 20 and 25 of the side rails Iii and il. The plate members I9 are projected outwardly from a corresponding side rail Iii and I I to positions within associated frame members 30 andV 35 of the end members I4 and I6. A pin'2I is extended through each projected end of a plate member I9 anda corresponding frame member 30 and'35 whereby each rail memthe side rails, and to a second or folded position adjacent the inner surface of a corresponding side rail. The rail members I4 and I6 are pivotally connected at their inner adjacent ends, in a usual manner by hinge members 4i] connected between the frame members 3o and between the frame members 35.

The floor Vof the iplay pen is Vcomprised of two like sections 23 and 24 each of which includes longitudinally extended iioor members 2B and transverse frame members 21,. three of which are illustrated in Fig. 4. The outer sides of each door section 23 and 24 are pivoted to a corresponding lower frame member 25 cfa side rail I-D and Il by hinge members 28 connected at one en d to each of the door frame members 21 and at an opposite end to the lower frame member 25 of the side rails I and Il. Each floor section is thus pivotallyfmovableto a lfolded position flat against a corresponding side rail I and Il, and to an open position normal to a side rail and substantially in the pla-ne -of the lower frame member 2 5 of aside rail.

The rloor in its open position is supported above the floor or ground surface substantially in the plane of the lower frame members 25 of the Aside rails I0 and iI bymeans includingpivoted members 3| pivota-lly supported on the central floor members 21 adjacent the inner ends of such members. The members 3|, when the fioorsections are in a folded position, are'pivotally .movable to positions alongside of and in the yplane of the central frame members f2las indicated for i the member '3'I of the floor section 23 shown in folded position in Fig. 2. When the door sections are 'in an open position the members SI are pivotally vmovable to a position projected laterally outwardly from the bottom-of a floor section as illustrated for the member '3l on the open floor section 24 shown in Fig. 2.

Thegend-s r of the iloor sections 23 and 24 adjacent the end rail vI2 'are supported on 'the end rail l2 by means including a right-angled bracket 'w32 Vmounted on each of the lower frame members Y35er the end rail-members I4 and i3, with a leg 3-3 thereof projected laterally outwardly from the inner surface of these rail members (Figs. 2 and 3). When the membersliiland I 3 are in their open positions as showninFig. l, the outer frame members 2l for each of the door sections 23 and 24, located adjacent the end rail I2, are supported on the leg members y33 of the brackets 32.

The play pen as thus far described is of a seneral land well known construction and forms no part of the 'present invention. In play pens of this construction the iioor is supported at its op- 'posite `ends on the vend rails of the pen in all respects similar to the support of the door on the Vend-rail I2, as described above. It will be seen, therefore, that when the play pen is set up it is necessary, for the support of the floor, that the end rails of the pen always be locked in thei open position, since any movement of an end 'rail outof a door supporting position would result in the'oor adjacent such end rail being permitted to fall to the ground surface when weight is )applied on the floor. As a result play pens now commercially available, and following the 4general construction described above,` require that Y the end railsfand-side rails be in relatively fixed positions at all times, 'when the pen is set up, in

`orderlto properly support 'thelooiz Inturn when- "ever a child is placed-in or removed from the pen 75 it is necessary for a person handling a child to lean over a rail to an appreciable extent. This is inconvenient for short persons, and objectionable generally because of the additional strain imposed on a persons back, particularly when such persons are recent mothers.

To overcome these objections the present invention provides a support for the licor adjacent the end rail I3 which is independent of the end rail I3 so that this end rail is capable of being moved outwardly from the oor, when the pen is set up. The members Il and i8 of the end rail I3 thus constitute gate members for opening and closing the pen in its set-up position. Access within 'the pen is thus provided for handling a child,` or for removing and placing a child in the pen, without the necessity of a person having to lean over-a side ofthe pen.

Thus v.referring to Figs. 1 and 5 the member i8 of the end rail I3 is pivotally supported on the side 'rail Il by Ameans including a double acting hinge comprising 'a substantially ueshaped bracket 35 mounted adjacent the top of 'the upright frame member 31 of the side rail il, land with the bracket legs extended below 'the kupper frame member 38 of the rail member i8 inra vertically spaced relation. A bolt '39 is extended through the upper frame member 38 and through the legs of vthe U bracket 36. Mounted about the bolt 33 and between the legs of the bracket A38 is a coil spring '4I having one end 4-2 attached to the lower bracket leg, and its opposite end 43 attached to the inside of the upper frame member '38 of the end rail member I8 so that the member I8 is biased by the spring 4I toward its open `position shown in Fig. l.

The lower frame member 46 -of the end -rail member I8 is pivoted on a-pin or bolt 137 extended through a plate member t8 projected laterally from the lower frame member 25 of the side rail Il (Fig. 5). The rail member I1 is pivotally supported on the side rail i6 in all ways similar to the support of the rail ,member I8 on the side rail II, so that a further description of its supg vport is believed to be unnecessary.

It is thus seen that the rail members l1 and i8 of the end rail I3 are movable to folded positions Yinwardly of and adjacent to the'inner surfaces of the side rails lll ,and H, Kand througbvan angular distance `of substantially away from their folded positions and in substantial longitudinal alignment with their lcorresponding rside rails, with the movement of the rail members I1 and I8 to their open positions being accomplished in part by the .action'of the springs 4i.

The floor section 23 'atits end adjacent the rail member ll carries a pivoted block member 49 having a longitudinally extended recessed Vportion 5I along one side thereof'adapted to :receive the transverse iloorfframe lmember indicated at 27a. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the block "lig is 'pivoted tothe'lower side ofthe oor'members 25, forming part of the floor section 23, and adjacent to the frame member 21u-by a pair of hinges 52 to provide for its movement 'to a position below the frame member 21a, and with the frame member 27a received within the recessed portion 5I, and to a folded position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig'. 8,against theunder side of the floormembers 23 4and within the spacedened by the projection of the frame member 21a' vfrom the iloor members.

The `block member has a Aportion 53 extended tions 23 and 2d are in their open positions. Thus when the pen is set up, the block member 49 is moved to its position shown in Fig. '7, and the oor section 2S is opened prior to the floor section 2li. By virtue ofthe pivoted supporting members 3i on the central frame members 21, and the support of the floor sections 23 and 2li on the end rail i2 and side rails Ill and II in the manner previously described, it is apparent that the floor is supported at all of its four sides independently of the end rail I3. To retain the floor section 2d against moving away from a supported position on the block member t9 the frame member 2lb, at its inner end, is provided with a downwardly projected dowel pin 54 adapted to be received in an opening or cavity 56 formed in the upper surface of the block member extension 53.

In the use of the play pen of this invention it is contemplated that both of the rail members I'I and IB of the end rail I3 be operable as a gate for opening and closing the pen, or that only the member It be so operated and the member Il maintained closed. For this purpose the member Il, when the member I8 is to be operated as a gate, is releasably locked in its closed position shown in Fig. 1 by means comprising a U-shaped spring clip 51 mounted on the lower frame member lili of the rail member Il and projected laterally from such member (Figs. '7, 8 and 9). A mating member 58, adapted to be frictionally engaged within the clip 57, is mounted on the side wall 59 of the recessed portion 5I in the block member 42, and is extended across such recessed portion.

When the block d is in its moved position shown in Fig. 7 the member 58 is receivable within a notch @I formed in the floor frame member 2M whereby the clip 5l, on movement of the rail member il to its closed position shown in Fig. 1, is movable within the notch EI into a frictionally engaged position with the member 58 to releasably hold the rail member I'i against movement away from the floor. With the rail member il thusv held, the rail member I8 is movable to open and closed positions, and retained in an open position by the spring 4I. In order to also open the rail member Il it is only necessary 'to over'- come the holding action of the spring clip 5i, with the member Il being retained in an open position by the action of its associated spring el.

To maintain the end rail I3 in a closed position the upper frame member 38 oi' the member I8 is provided on one side and adjacent its outer end with a plate member (i2 having an extension 63 projected outwardly from the inner end of the frame member 'ai (Fig. 6). A longitudinally extended slot Sli in the plate extension 63 is open at its outer end @t to the bottom of the plate E2 and is formed with an upwardly extending recess el at its inner end. The upper frame member Sii of the rail member Il is provided with a laterally extended catch member or screw 6B adjacent its inner end adapted to be received within the open slot end S5 and moved within the slot @d to a releasably locked position within the recess di'. This locking of the screw I with the plate member e2 at the recess El' is accomplished by initially tilting the rail member I3 upwardly at its inner end to position the screw 68 at the slot opening Se and then moving the rail members I'I and i8 inwardly toward each other until the screw 68 is received within the notch or recess Gl.

The lower ends of the rail members Il and I8 are releasably locked together by means comprising a latch member 68a having one end pivoted at 69 to the lower frame member lid of the rail member I8 and an opposite end projected outwardly from the inner end of the frame member d6. The extended end of the latch member 63a is formed with a notch 'II open to the bottom of the latch member and adapted to receive a pin or4 screw 'l2 projected laterally outwardly from the inner end of the lower frame member dii of the member Il. When the members Il and I8 are in their closed positions the latch member 63a is initially in. an upwardly moved position so as to provide for the recess 'II being positioned over the screw l2.

The downward pivotal movement of the latch member 68a is limited by a stop screw I3 carried adjacent the inner end of the lower frame member 45 of the rail member I 8 and loosely receivable in a transversely extended slot 'I4 formed in the latch member 68a. The engagement of the upper end of the slot III with the stop screw 13 denes a lowermost position of the latch 68a at which the outer end of the latch 63a is in a spaced relation above a ground or oor surface. By virtue of this limited movement of the latch member 68a the rail member I8 is freely operable as a gate from a closed position to its open position shown in Fig. 1 without any interference from the latch member 68a as a result of its engagement with the ground or floor surface.

Assume that the pen is in its set-up position and is to be folded. The rail member I8 is disconnected from the rail member I'I and moved to its open position so as to permit moving the door sections 23 and 2d without requiring a person leaning over a side of the pen. The iioor ,section 24 is then folded upwardly against the inner surface of the side' rail II and the member 3| on the central frame 2 oi the floor section 2d dropped in a' position in alignment with such central member, to a position illustrated for the pivoted member 3l on the floor section 23 in Fig.

2. The floor section 23 is then folded upwardly against the side rail Ill and the block member 9 moved to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 8. The rail members Il' and I3 are then moved against corresponding bottoms of the floor sections 23 and 2d, respectively. With the pen thus folded the end rail I2 is folded inwardly at its hinged connection @Il so as to position the rail members I d and I6 against corresponding oor sections 23 and 2d. When this is accomplished the rail members IG and I, Il and I8 are moved flat against each other as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that the complete pen is foldable into a compact unit which is readily moved about on the caster wheels I 5. In opening the play pen the procedure described above for folding the play pen is reversed. Y

From a consideration of the above description it is seen that the invention provides a foldable play pen which is of a simple and rugged construction, easily adapted to be moved about, and readily set up or folded. During either the setting up or the folding operations access is had to all parts of the play pen without requiring a person to lean over a side rail of the pen, and when the pen is in a set-up position end rail members Il and I8 thereof are operable as gate members to provide access within the pen without requiring a person to lean over the pen.. The floor supporting member L39 adjacent the rail members i'i and I8 is readily movable to an operating position, and to a folded position in which it does not interfere with the compact folding of the play pen. The means for locking the rail members Il and 'I8 in a pen closing position are of a construction adapted to maintain such mein- `bers against either'lateral or vertical movement, and further are of fa construction so :as to be incapable of movement to a released V.posi-tion by a child located within the play pen.

Although the invention :has -been described with respect to a .preferred embodiment thereof it is vto -be understood that it is not to be so limited since modications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as den-ned by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A `foldable vplav pen comprising side :inembers and oldable end walls with one of said end walls including two separable well portions, means pivotally supporting the outer ends Vof said two wall portions to an adjacent side member, a falda-ble door comprised of Atwo sections, each 'of 'said iioor sections bei-ng pivoted at its outer sideto the'bottom of 'an adjacent 'side member and pivotally movable to an fopen position normal to said side member, means .forsupporting the floor in .said open position l.above 'a ground surface including a member adapted to rest on f' the ground surface and connected to one of said floor sections,an extension on .said member projected outwardly from said vone iioor section `to a position for supporting :the `other .of :said iicor sections, said extension having an opening in the H portions and on said one floor `section for releasably holding said one wall portion against pivotal movement in a position adjacent to said one floor section and substantially normal to its corresponding side member, with said other wall portion being pivotally movable outwardly from the other of said floor sections to a position in substantial longitudinal alignment with its corresponding vside member to constitute a gate member to close and open the pen, and means `for releasably locking said two `wall portions together when said other wall* portion `is ni a pen closing position.

2. A foldable play pen ycomprising la pair of side members, 'and a pair of foldable end rails, Vwith one of said end rails including two separable rail members, means pivoting the outer'ends lof said two rail `members to Vadjacent side members, a vtwo section foldable oor, with each floor section pivoted at its outer end to the lower end of an adjacent side memben, said oor sections, when the foldable end rails are in an open position, being pivotally movable toward each other to an open position between said side members and said endrails, means for supporting said oor in an open position above aground surface including a block member adapted to rest on the ground surface and carried on one oi said floor 'sections adjacent one of said rail members, said block member having aportion extended below the other of said iioor sections to support said other iioor section, means .for releasably connecting said other fioor `section with said extended portion to hold said two kdoor sections against spreading apart when said 'floor is in an open position, vother means for releasably connecting said -one floor section with said one -rail member to hold said one rail -member against Veach other, co-acting means on one of said wall "35 pivotal movement in an open position, with the Vother of said rail mem-bers being pivotally movable `in .longitudinal alignment with said one rail member in an open position to close the pen, and pivotally movable from said longitudinally aligned position `to a position in Asubstantial longitudinal alignment relative to its corresponding side member 'to Aopen lthe pen, and .means for releasably locking said two rail -members together in longitudinal alignment.

3. A folda'ble play pen comprising a pair of side members and ya pair of ioldable end walls, A

a foldable oor comprised of two sections, means pivotally supporting v.each viioor section at its outer .side to an adjacent side wall for up and down pivotal movement to an open horizontal position between said side members and end walls and to a folded upright position against an `adjacent side member, when said -end walls are in an Iopen position, means releasably connecting lsaid floor sections against movement away from each other in an lopen position, 'with one of said end walls including two separable wall portions, means for supporting said foldable licor above a ground surface including block members carried on the under side of ysaid floor adjacent to said one yend wall, means pivoting 'one of said wall portions at its outer end to one of said side members `for pivotal movement .from a first position Yfolded ad jacent to said one side member to a second position in substantial longitudinal alignment with said one side member, means pivoting the other oi said wall portions at :its outer end to the second one of said side members for pivotal movement from `a rst position :folded .adjacent to said second side member toa second position substantially normal to Asaid second `side member, and means for freleasably connecting said two Wall portions together, when they are in substantial longitudinal alignment, to close the pen, with said one wall portion being pivotally movable :from a pen Vclosing position to said second position therefor to constitute a gate for opening and lclosing the pen.

Vla A foldable play pen comprising side members and foldable end walls, with one of said end walls including two separable wall portions, a ioldable oor comprised of two sections, means pivotally supportingeach iioor section at its outer side to `an adjacent side member for up and down pivotal movement to an vopen horizontal position between said side .members and end walls and to a folded upright position against an adjacent side member, when'said end walls are in an open position normal to said side members, means for supporting said floor in .an open position above a ground surface including block members car- Vried on the under side of said oor sections adapted Atorrest on lthe ground surface, means for releasably connecting said floor sections together in open Yposition against lateral spreading movement, means pivotally supporting each of said wall portions at the'outer end thereof on an adjacent side member, coacting means on one of said wall portions .and on one of said iioor sections for releasably holding said one wall portion in its open position, and means releasably locking said two lwall portions together in their open positions to close vthe pen, with the other of said wall portions lbeing pivotally movable outwardlyffroin the pen, on release from said one walliportion to constitute a gate for opening and lclosing the pen.

JoHN. n. WRIGHT. 

